Profiteroles with chocolate sauce recipe

Sue McMahon, Woman's Weekly cookery editor, gives her recipe for this well-loved dessert. Follow along in the easy step-by-step video

Ingredients

Choux Buns

• 60g (2oz) butter 
• 150ml (1/4 pint) water
• 75g (21/2oz) plain flour
• 2 medium eggs

Chocolate Sauce

• 100ml (31/2fl oz) water60g (2oz) butter
• 175g (6oz) dark soft brown sugar
• 2 level tablespoons cocoa

Filling

• 300ml carton double cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Large piping bag fitted with 1cm (1/2in) diameter piping tube

Baking sheet, with non-stick liner or baking parchment

Method

1. To make the choux buns, set the oven to Gas Mark 7 or 220°C.
2. Place the butter in a saucepan with the water over a low heat until the butter melts. Bring the mixture to the boil, remove the pan from the heat and quickly beat in the flour until the mixture binds and comes away from the sides of the pan.
   
3. Leave the mixture to cool for at least 10 minutes, then beat in the eggs. Fill the piping bag with the mixture and pipe balls, about the size of walnuts onto the baking sheet.
   
4. Place the baking sheet above the centre of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the buns have risen and are a pale golden colour.
5. Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to moderate Gas Mark 4 or 180°C. Pierce each bun with a skewer or fine knife to allow the steam to escape, then return to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes until the buns are crisp.
   
6. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool and then cut each almost fully in half. Remove any soft mixture from the centres, using a teaspoon.
7. To make the chocolate sauce, pour the water into a saucepan and melt over a gentle heat. Add the sugar and cocoa and continue to stir until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and bring to the boil, then simmer for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the sauce to cool and thicken.
8. To make the cream filling, whisk the cream and vanilla extract until it forms soft peaks. Fill the piping bag, fitted with the piping tube, and pipe some cream into the centre of each. Pile up on serving plate and spoon some chocolate sauce on top. Serve any extra sauce in a small jug.